On Saturday, April 22, in a match of the 22nd round of the Ukrainian championship Dynamo Kyiv played a draw with Shakhtar Donetsk 1:1. The match took place in Kyiv at the Dynamo Stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy. Here is the post-match press conference of the head coaches.
Mircea Lucescu. Photo - YurievMircea Lucescu, Dynamo head coach:
- Are you satisfied with how your team played this match?
- Yes. Today was a very good game, both teams were quite focused. I would like to note that today we had seven Dynamo players. They played at a fairly good level, despite the lack of experience and their age. The match against Shakhtar is a good experience for these guys.
The opponents also had good young players who previously played for Mariupol. And they also showed themselves well. It`s great that young players of both teams have an opportunity to play at this level.
Before this match we had a lot of staff losses. In addition, the guys were under pressure from the latest setbacks, loss of points in previous matches. Given all factors, 1-1 is not a bad result. We conceded an unnecessary goal from 35 meters, but then we managed to get back into the game, tied the score and could have achieved more. But 1-1 is also a good result.
We know our players very well and we know what they are capable of. But, unfortunately, we can`t rely on everyone, including some experienced players. The fact that in this situation we did not lose today is a good result.
It is a pity that there were moments that could not be ignored - those were fouls against our team players that the referee did not see or did not want to see. Against Buyalskiy, against Voloshyn in the second half, 16 meters from the opponent's goal.
In conclusion I would like to say one more thing. From now on I`m going on sick leave, I need a surgery on my leg. Oleksandr Shovkovskiy will be my acting head coach. But I will always be with the team, I will monitor all processes. I could have the surgery in the other country, but I think I must stay in Kyiv to be with the team, it is important for players, for Dynamo, and maybe even for Ukraine.
Igor YOVICHEVICH, Shakhtar head coach:
- Today was really "classic". The tension in the game was very high. We quickly opened the score, it gave us courage, which allowed us to dominate and control the game. Time will show whether we lost two points today or gained one.
But I am disappointed. It is a shame. You're leading the score the whole game, the opponents had two shots on goal and Andrievskyy`s mastery of free kicks decides the outcome of the game. I do not remember other scoring chances near our goal. Anyway, in any case, we must respect the opponent, especially today we played with Dynamo Kyiv.
Nevertheless, today we have created enough prerequisites to take three points in this tense game.
Igor Jovicevic. Photo by JuryevWe have a fairly complicated schedule of remaining games. It will be difficult. We keep fighting, we keep fighting. We have already done what no one expected from us at the beginning of the season, when everyone called "Dynamo" the main favorite of this championship.
We will continue to fight for the championship. I think this is the most interesting championship of Ukraine - I do not remember when there was such a tension, so that eight rounds before the end of the tournament it was not clear who will be the champion and who will take the other prizes. We control the first place and have two games in reserve before our nearest pursuer - "Dnipro-1".
And we`ll solve today`s game. Meanwhile, of course, not the best emotions - we had everything in this game to score more goals.
Alexander POPOV from Dynamo Stadium named after Valeriy Lobanovskiy
